September 12, 2012 - Brandon Twp.- Students are back in school and it appears they may be back in similar numbers to last year, possibly halting a years-long downward spiral in enrollment in this district.

Superintendent Lorrie McMahon said that while it is slightly premature, enrollment less than two weeks in to the new year "looks to be pretty good."

"It looks like we won't have as large a loss of students as aniticipated," she said. "I don't think we made any gains, but I would love to be wrong."

District officials had planned for a 40 student drop, consistent over the last few years. Student count has declined in the district for the past seven years.

McMahon believes the district may find on student count day, Oct. 3, that enrollment is close to the same as last year.

"We would be very, very excited if we held even," she said.

During an Oct. 10 finance committee meeting, the district will get the first look at this year's audit, and Lewis & Knopf will present the audit to the full board during their regular meeting planned for 6:30 p.m., Oct. 15 at the central district office, 1025 S. Ortonville Road.

"We really hope that the audit comes out better than the original budget," McMahon said. "We would love to find that we have a little bit more money than we thought we did. We don't expect to have any less."